Three-seater spacey flounder: Lotus Theory 1 – from idea to practice

Three-seater spacey flounder
Lotus Theory 1 – from idea to practice

September 20, 2024, 8:28 a.m

Listen to article

With Theory 1, Lotus shows where the journey is headed in the next few years. This much can be said after the first seat test: the future of the brand will be anything but boring.

Lotus is going electric, that has long been a foregone conclusion. But how will the performance brand’s future models differ from those of their market competitors? The Theory 1 study, which brings together a phalanx of new approaches, provides a whole range of answers to this question.

The aim is to give people behind the wheel and in the passenger seats an unadulterated, pure driving experience. No distraction from huge screen walls the width of a car, no information inflation. Instead, focus on the essentials and displays exactly where they can be best perceived. And that also means putting an end to the usual mix of sometimes more than 100 different materials in one vehicle. The Theory 1 gets by with significantly less. Recycled, chopped carbon fiber is used most intensively. It also includes cellulose-based glass fibers, titanium, recycled glass panels, recycled polyester, recycled rubber, elastomeric polyurethane, transparent polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane and recycled aluminum.

Fast pads for fast corners

Chassis, body, interior – almost everything is made of carbon. Then there is a material developed with a Berlin startup for textile-based wearables on the seats and on the racing-style small, rectangular steering wheel. Small cushions can be inflated and deflated again in fractions of a second – for example in fast corners or, according to an idea for the future, as a tactile indication of excessive speed or leaving the lane. First impression when testing the seat: That would definitely be more pleasant than the constant tinkling or beeping like in many current cars.

In Theory 1, the pilot sits in the center, in fact almost exactly in the middle of the manageable 4.49 meter long and two meter wide racer. And thus exactly between the two double doors that open and close in an exciting choreography, which take up little space in narrow parking garages, for example. The central position, the windshield pulled far down and the clear view of the suspension enable a good overview.

On the left and right sides, slightly set back, the passengers find space, with plenty of legroom and sound from the KEF audio system specially tailored to their needs. Just below shoulder height, a laser light strip runs through the interior of the car, which can display, among other things, the charging status or the indicator function.

The small 2D display in the steering wheel and the head-up display serve the aim of minimizing distraction for the driver and providing him with all the necessary information despite his eyes on the road. Laser light and OLED technology are also used on the outside, for example through extremely thin laser light strips on the front and an interactive strip of lights on the sides that react to touch and display various vehicle status displays.

Extreme aerodynamics

Of course, the Theory 1 should also drive, and pretty quickly. The front and rear sections, which are designed for extreme aerodynamics and include the active rear spoiler, show that the goals are ambitious. The height of just 1.14 meters and the gently curved roof section do the rest. Based on the model of the Formula 1 racer Lotus 49, the motor and battery unit were designed as a loaded element that absorbs the forces directly from the suspension. This reduces complexity and weight; a subframe is not necessary. The rear wing was also mounted to the engine and suspension assembly to ensure that downforce acts directly on the suspensions and therefore the tires.

Despite all the focus on driving fun, the Theory 1 is also hardware-prepared for level 4 autonomous driving. For this purpose, it has, among other things, four LiDAR, six HD cameras and a combination of long- and short-range millimeter radars as well as ultrasonic radars on board, which enable a 360-degree detection range. Lotus promises that obstacles of any kind within a radius of up to 200 meters around the vehicle will be detected, even in bad weather.

Not a hypercar, but very fast

The Lotus study is not designed as a hypercar. Very fast, rather than desired, but also at least partially suitable for everyday use for fans of pronounced dynamics.

According to current ideas, the target value of “under 1600 kilos” live weight is in any case opposed to a 1000 hp electric motor in the rear, which should accelerate the Theory 1 to 100 in less than 2.5 seconds and then further to 320 km/h. The battery capacity of 70 kWh should ensure a range of around 400 kilometers. The study with the driving modes Range, Tour, Sport, Individual and Track stands on Pirelli P-Zero Elect tires with 20 and 21 inches.

And what happens to Theory 1 after the ceremonial unveiling? According to Lotus, series production is definitely not planned. The study is a kind of collection of ideas in the original format, a cluster of driver-oriented technology for more driving fun and safety. And it is a platform for new materials that can reduce the ecological footprint of future cars. A clear statement from the car manufacturer: Many of the new products from the study have what it takes to appear in exactly the same way or at least in a similar form in future Lotus models.